Footwear safety device



March 1945- s. s. ROBERTS FOOTWEAR SAFETY DEVICE Original Filed April 1, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i i T ll 5 March 6, 1 945. s. s. ROBERTS Re. 22,614

I FOOTWEAR SAFETY DEVICE Original Filed April 1, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. 54MUZ 5 P0558725,

March 6, 1945. s s ROBERTS Re. 22,614

FOOTWEAR SAFETY DEVICE Original Filed April 1, 1945 3 SheetsSheet 5 54MUZ 5 19055975,

A 4770mm:

Reissued Mar. 6, 1945 FOOTWEAR SAFETY DEVICE Samuel S. Roberts, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Original No. 2,339,193, dated January 11. 1944, Serial No. 481,471, April 1, 1943. Application for reissue December 30, 1944, Serial No. 570,565

13 Claims.

This invention relates to footwear safety de vices and particularly to such devices used in conjunction with safety shoes.

To obtain the full cooperation of the worker in using footwear safety devices, it is necessary that the device be flexible so that theworker can perform any operation, such as stooping or climbing, without discomfort or interference. To fully protect the wearer of the device, the device must be made so as to protect the wearer regardless of the position of his foot. The guard must protect the toes, vamp, instep,'metatarsal joint, the ankle and tibia leg bone of the worker. M

It is an object of this invention to provide a flexible footwear safety device capable of withstanding the shock of impacts regardless of the position of the foot. 4

Another object is to provide such a device which may be applied to any standard type or size of safety shoe.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following description and attached drawings, in which:

Fig. -1 is a side elevation of the guard;

Fig. 2 is a section on line II II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line III-HI of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV--IV of Fig, i;

Fig. 5 is a section on line V-V of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a front view of theguard.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the reference numeral 2 indicates a safety shoe to which the safety guard of thepresent invention is to be applied. The various parts of the guard may be die stamped from any suitable material such as wood, steel, plastic, and the like. The guard consists of a toe cap 4 having a bottom ledge 6 for-resting on the welt of the shoe. The toe cap protects the toe area and provides a forward anchorage for the guard assembly. Two arch swing clips 8 are riveted to the toe cap and have a bottom ledge ID for resting on the welt of the shoe. Below the ledge are the finger grips l2 which facilitate the application and subsequent removal of the guard to the shoe. The swing clips 8 automatically adjust themselves and grip the shoe under influence of the compression springs M to fit any size shoe between Nos. 6 and 12.

Pivotally mounted on the toe cap 4, by means of pivot bolts I6, is the main cover l8 which may be provided with reinforcing ribs 20. The cover l8 extends upwardly and rearwardly as shown in order to protect the ankle. n the under side of the main cover I8 is a loop'strap 2| having a slot 22 therein. A rear spring steel arch 24 is adjustably connected to the strap 2| by means of a pin 26. The arch 24 has a bottom inner ledge 28 on either side thereof which rests on the shank welt of the shoe. Hinged to 5 the bottom of one leg of the steel arch 24 is an under slung spring loaded link 30 having a notched fastener 32 in one end thereof for attachment to the hasp 34 connected to the other leg of the spring steel arch. The spring loaded link 30 extends crosswise directly in front of the heel of the shoe to provide a supplementary anchorage to insure that the ledges of the arch will remain fixed and exert a constant gripping action on the shoes shank. The slot 22 permits the rear arch to be shifted lengthwise to accommodate different shoe sizes and to suit the foot movements. It is desirable that the heel of the main cover l8 should remain in close proximity to the floor regardless of the size of the shoe to which it is attached, thus afiording maximum protection to the foot. To accomplish this result, the strap 2| is arranged so that it makes a substantially smallerangle with the horizontal than does that portion of the main cover I8 to which the strap 2| is attached. The inherent resiliency of the spring steel rear arch provides a cushion to partly absorb shock impacts regardless of the position of the foot and thus eifects a partial reduction in the kinetic energy or initial force of the blow. In the event of rear arch failure, the entire perimeter of the bottom of the main cover l8 contacts the floor surface, thus providing extra insurance against injury to the foot. Hinged to the main cover l8 with a 35 spring retractor 3B is an auxiliary cover 38 which 40 42 through which a tension strap 44 passes. The

tension strap is connected to the toe cap 4 by means of helical expansion spring 46. The forward end of each spring is connected to an end clip 48 which is pivotally mounted on the bolt One end of the tension strap is riveted to the rear end of one spring and the other is connected by means of a buckle 50 to the rear end of the other spring. To secure firmer and more rigid connection of the safety guard to the shoe 50 the expansion springs pass through guide loops 52 riveted to the rear arch 24. As shown in Fig. 1 there is clearance 54 between the guard and the front of the shoe.

' To apply the guard to the shoe the toe arch 56 clips 8 are spread by means of the nngergrips l2 and the guard is then slid horizontally along the toe caps welt. The maincover I8 and the spring rear arch 24 are depressed over the instep until the lower edge of the arch 24 seats on the shank welt. The link 30 is then positioned to contact the front of the heel crosswise and the fastener ,32, is hooked over the hasp 34. The springs 415 are pulled in), by means of strap 44 and buckle 50' to secure the guard in position with the ledges resting on the sole or welt of the shoe. It will be seen that the main cover I8 has vertical axis, thus facilitating the ease with which the strap may be fastened thereto.

To remove the guard the tension s tr leased and the fastener 32 hasp 34 to enable the under slungjink: swung back. Therear arch 24 is then liftedv above the instep and the guard pushed forward until the toe ar'ch clipsBgclear the toe ofjhe shop, While one embodiment. of theinventionhas been shownZand v.de sc1,i'l c1:1', it i s understood that other modifications. fand adaptaltiOng may,, be madewithout, departing from attached claims. i 1 a I 'c1'aiin:.:.,. i .s a .1 AJfootWear. safety. guard comprising a toe cap havin'gwa bottomiedgef-for r 'of'saidfootweanaguardcoyel'sp e a on said toe 'cap,;sai:l cover extendingto the;bot tom of said footwear, *anerch mou ted qncsa lco'ver,"sa1d archihaving a ledge thereon for resting. on the. shank welt of -saidfqotwealnmefins connecting the lower :ends of said, arch, means forh'olding said guardragainstlongitudinal movement'on saidiootwear and 'means for holding said? guard against transverse movement on said footwear.

- 2.1 footwear may and rcom iimg a toe cap "having 'a'b'ottom" ledgefor re'stirfgxon the welt of s'aid footwear, 'a' guard coverpivotally mountedv *on" "toe "capj'said cover 1 extending to the bottoin'of said footwear, aniarch mounted on said g on the sh'ank "welt 'jofffsaid rfootwear, -means necting'ithe lower ends" ofjgsai'danch, a? curved Eback plate,means for"connectingrsaidback :plate ft'o s'aiditbe'capandineahs'forholding said-guard against transverse movement on said "footwear. '3. ""A footwear safety""guard?' comprisin a toe eap' having' a bottomledge for resting on the welt "tom of 'saidfootwear, an archamountedomsaid cover, 'sai'da'rcn having-a ledge';thereon for resting on the shank welt-of i-saidffootwear,-means iconnecting the lower ends git-said arch anauxil-lary, cover 'pivotally, connected, to said guard.

LJeover, and extendingu ,wardl .,theref rom, means, v M a p y Opasslngthrough loopsin saidarch.

Qfor holding said guardjagainst longitudinalgn ove- ..ment. on. saidciqo wearnan 11 ding asaidzgua'rd against transverse movement" on said caphavingapottom ledge for resting qnthe welt theshank welt; eans: 9

against longitudinal movement on said freeman the scope of the c'over, "saidarch havinga ledge :there'on for restr "so :bottoin' organ" footwear;

voftnereer :"for rest ng o the shank 5. A footwear safety guard comprising a toe cap having a bottom ledge for resting on the welt of said footwear, spring pressed swing clips connected to said toe cap, each of said clips having a ledge thereon for resting on the welt of said footwear, a guard cover pivotally mounted on said toe cap, said cover extending to the bottom of said footwear; [an arch mounted on said cover, said arch having a ledge tliereon for resting on the shank welt, means connecting the lower ends Y i s: said arch, a curved back plate, and means for been cut away to enable buckle 50 to rotate on its connecting saidback plate to said toe cap.

having a bottom ledge for resting on the 15 weltcf said footwear, spring pressed swing clips j tosaiawe "cap, each of said clips havmg 'a ledge thereon for resting on the welt of i "said footwear, a guard cover pivotally mounted on saia toe cap, said cover extending to the bottom of said footwear, an arch mounted on said cover, 'said arch having "a 'le'dgethereo-n for resting on the shank weltme'an "connecting the lower ends of said archjan auxiliary cover pivarmy connected to said guard cover and "extendupwardly therefrom, a clirved back'plateyand needs for connecting "back plate to said toe cap tap aving; 'botto'in ledg'e' for resting on the id footwear, "spring pressedswing clips to saiw'toecap, "e'ah'ur said "clips have "were for resting "on the wlt'bf wear, faguard cover pivotally mounted 'on' sjaidtoe canaid guardcoverextending to the ottom or "said rootwear, "a "spring 'st'e'el'arch adjii'st'ably" inolinte'd on said cover, and arch lrraving a ledge thereon for resting'onthe-'shlatrik-=welt "cream footweanhi'eans donhectin'gthelower ends or said arch, an auxiliary cover pivotally'bonagnected to said guard cover and 'e-xtendin'g up- 1 "cil ftliererr'om, a curvedbackplatefiand -means connecting"saidback'plate with said toe c'ap.

8. A footwear "safety guard comprising a -toe cap having-a "bottom ledge' fi.' 'r resting on the welt'io'f said fodtwearfspring pressea -swm clips "blips" havingf'a ledge thereon" or resting ionthe said toe caiprsa j'uspabl f'mountdonsaid cover, said arch havn forres'tlng' on the shank welt can connecting'thel-loweniends 'chfi' n auxiliary *cover pivotallyt consaid -gi iaifd cover -arid xtendingmphei'efrom, a ciir'vd aclc-iplate; a. t'r'ap 'ss'iri'g throngh a loop i d -babkplate and h sprin -cor; achend fof-i said f'strapfand said toe eap, said s'pr ing connection -ajcom e r a y gi ard comprising'na toe 71 A "footwear safety uard comprising "a toe Y 7 tomfled ge-for resting onthe welt 10. A footwear safety guard comprising a toe said guard cover and extending upwardly there-- from, a curved back plate, a strap passing through a loop in said back plate, and a spring connection between each end of said strap and said toe cap, said spring connection passing through loops in said arch.

11. A footwear safety guard comprising a toe cap, clips connected to said toe cap, each of said clips having a ledge thereon for resting on the welt of said footwear, a guard cover pivotally mounted on said toe cap, an arch mounted on said cover, said arch having a ledge thereon for resting on the shank welt, means urging the lower ends of said arch toward each other, and means for holding said guard against longitudinal movement on said footwear. I

12. A footwear safety guard comprising a toe cap, spring pressed clips connected to said toe cap, each of said clips having a ledge thereon for resting on the welt of said footwear, a guard cover pivotally mounted on said toe cap, said cover extending substantially to the bottom of said footwear, an arch mounted on said cover, said arch having a ledge thereon for resting on the shank welt, means urging the lower ends of said arch toward each other, and means for holding said guard against longitudinal movement on said footwear.

13. A footwear safety guard comprising a toe cap, spring pressed clips connected to said toe cap, each of said clips having a ledge thereon for resting on the welt of said footwear, a guard cover pivotally mounted on said toe cap, said cover extending substantially to the bottom of said footwear, an arch mounted on said cover,

said arch having a ledge thereon for resting on the shank welt, means urging the lower ends of said arch toward each other, an auxiliary cover pivotally connected to said guard cover and extending upwardly therefrom, and means for holding said guard against longitudinal movement on said footwear.

SAMUEL S. ROBERTS. 

